AKU: An African Journal of Contemporary Research

This research aims at examining the potentials of African Traditional Medicine, especially nutraceuticals and the need to conserve and harness nutraceuticals for sustainability in Africa. The term “African traditional medicine” can be referred to the indigenous medicine of Africa, based on traditional indigenous knowledge systems and passed down, by word of mouth, from generation to generation within the particular indigenous community. This system of medicine had long existed before the advent of modern medicine (Orthodox), and it is used for the treatment of diseases and illness by African indigenous people. Despite being the oldest system in the world, African traditional medicine has remained the least established, informal and most rudiment traditional medicine system in the world. This paper attributes some limitations and challenges confronting African Traditional Medicine (ATM) to poverty, rapid loss of the natural habitats of some of these medicinal plants due to anthropogenic activities, lack of scientific credibility and facilities and health services, lack of overall public acceptance and lack of governmental support. This paper observes that the reasons behind the lack of acceptance of ATM generally is because of the old belief that it is founded on mysticism and superstition, and secondly Africans do not largely domesticate and conserve the medicinal plants and animals used for production of traditional medicine in Africa. The questions that propel this research are; why do Africans perceive ATM as inferior and archaic, and what has prevented Africa from developing and harnessing the use of ATM? What has African leaders done to ensure strict conservation of these medicinal plants in Africa? Employing the methods of philosophical analysis and hermeneutics, this paper critically analyzes some key concepts for clarification, debunks the assertion that African traditional medicines are founded on mysticism, magic, witchcraft etc., and argues that nutraceuticals a brand of ATM, commonly referred to as functional foods which are derived from food sources like fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants, rely on traditional knowledge and have curative and preventive measures without negative effects unlike orthodox medicines. This research submits that for healthcare services to enjoy sustainability and tremendous progress, African countries as a matter of urgency must make conservation of the herbs, medicinal plants and animals the number one priority.

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